Parachute



A. ACKERMANN.

Y PARACHUTE.

` APPLICATION FILED NOV- 30 |921.

1,406,521 Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

UNITED STATES ADELRICH ACKERMANN, OF REIDEN, SWITZERLAND.

PARACHUTE.

Specification of Letters Batent. Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

Application inea November ao, 1921; serial No. 518,907.

To all ui/0m it may concern: p

Be it known that I, ADELRICH CKER- MANN, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, and resident of Beiden, in the Canton of Luzern, Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to Parachutes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to parachutes and concerns more particularly a catch-andrelease device intended to replace or be used in addition to the snap-cord commonly provided in parachutes and connecting the top or pole thereof with its casing or envelope when in normal, that is, packed position. The object of this catch-and-release device is to eliminate the danger or risk run when employing snap-cords which, either owing to negligence or oversight, might be made too strong or too weak thus refusing to act at the proper time.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the mounting of the parachute and its dependent parts;

Fig 2 shows a sectional elevation, on a larger scale, of the parachute when in packed position or in a position of rest, and

Fig. 3 represents the parachute and the catch-and-release device in released or open position, these three views being in diagrammatical form only.

Fig. 4 illustrates details kon a larger scale.

In referring to these drawings, 1 designates a cylindrical casing adapted to receive the parachute, this casing at the top being provided with means, such as struts 2, whereby to secure it to a convenient part of the frame of the aircraft to which the parachute is to be applied. The bottom of the casing consists of a slotte-d member Swhich is hingedly mounted at 4 and ordinarily kept close by the action of a spring arranged at 5, this spring exerting only a slight pressure against the wall of the casing 1 and easily yielding to even a small pressure brought to bea-r on the member 3 from above. The parachute 6 itself is of the usual design and when in packed position, Figs. 1 and 2, suspended from the topy of the casing 1 by a cord 7 just strong enough to carry the para-v chute and prevent it from becoming accidentally detached. 8 indicates therope secured to the Vpole or center of the parachute on the one hand and carrying a belt 9 or the like on the other hand to which the aviator attaches himself. 10 designates the series of radial cords of which one end is connected to the edge of the parachute, as at 11, while the other end of each of the said cords is lixed to a disc 12, the latter also serving to attach to it the rope 8 at a point corresponding with the full span of the parachute, Fig. 3.

Now, the construction and arrangement of the parachute, the casing therefor, and the means for mounting the latter on the aircraft may be of any of the known kind, it not being intended that these features form part of the present invention.

The improved catch-and-release device consists of one or two or more. spring-members `13 suspended from the pole or center of the parachute, and a ring 14 having an eyelet 14,-Fig. 4, the said ring being secured to the rope 8 at a point which is approximately half-way between the pole or center and the disc 12. The spring-member 13 and the ring 14 are adapted to be brought into engagement with one another in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and when so ene gaged, the parachute is ready for use. The action of the device described is as follows:

Assuming that the aviator desires to make use of the parachute; now, by the weight of the falling aviator the thin cord 7 is caused to snap off, without however, at once causing a release of the ring 14 from the springmember 18, the gripping power of the latter being greater than the resistance of the cord 7. Nevertheless, a moment later the weight of the freed parachute causes the bottom 3 of the casing 1 to be opened, while the gathered-up top portion or loop 8 of the rope 8 is almost at the same time stretched thus tearing the ring 14 out of engagement from thespring-member 13, with the result, that the parachute owing to the inrushing air is spanned and takes the form shown in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that the loop or portion 8 of the rope, when the parts 18 and 14 arey engaged, must be short enough that it tends to pull the ring 14 out of its engaged position before the radial cords 10 are under tension, but that the said portion 8', after the release'of the ring 14, is of such lenoth that the draught is taken up by the radial cords only.

Having now fully described my said invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 4 Y, v

ln the herein-described para-chute wherein the. suspension rope is secured to the insideL of the pole of the parachute, the combination, with a Casing for the parachute `nd means for suspending the same-fiom the top of and Within the casing', of :L eatCh-and-released device consisting of 2L spring-member also mounted at the inside of the said pole7 :ind :i ring Attal-hed to the suspension rope and located at :i certain 'distance below the pose set forth. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setJ my hand in .the presence of twosiihsoribng Witnesses. l

ADELRICH ACKERMANN. lvitnesses:

EYLANH'INE C. VVAcHs, E. Gimxs. 

